REVIEWS KNYSNA 480

Shipyard KNYSNA YACHT COMPANY (Pty) Ltd

Shipyard : KNYSNA YACHT COMPANY (Pty) Ltd / Length : 14.63m

Knysna 480 catamaran : Peaceful ocean cruising…

It is rare that we are lucky enough to be able to test a catamaran in its real cruising configuration, as it would really be used by its owner. Aboard this Knysna 480 catamaran, the n°1 of the series, we were able to live aboard a boat in working order for a full week, with all tanks full, loaded with food, our belongings, and with its full crew... In short, a real-life test!

Knysna 480 catamaran : A comfortable boat…

Discovering ‘Sailfish’, our Knysna
480 catamaran, we climbed aboard a very classically designed catamaran: a large cockpit
with a nice table, where 8 people can easily be accommodated. Two steps allow
access to the raised steering position. The helm position is natural and
pleasant, but as is often the case on these big catamarans, the hydraulic
steering gives very little feel, and we quickly left the steering to the
automatic pilot...

Inside the saloon of the Knysna 480 catamaran, to starboard,
there is a nice lounge with a table and very comfortable seating. Opposite,
there is the chart table and the electrical control panel. Practical and appreciated,
not to mention the high quality of the connections.

To port is a very well-designed
galley, with a work top which would have many cooks dreaming.

Going down into the hulls of the Knysna 480 catamaran (similar
on our test version), we find an aft cabin with a superb king-size bed, a
bathroom in the gangway, a forward cabin (queen-size bed) with the bed
athwartships, a nice bathroom and finally a crew berth in the forepeak, which
can also be turned into either a workshop or a stowage area.